NEW DELHI: Six bar associations from different states on Thursday had a brief meeting with CJI Sanjiv Khanna demanding initiation of criminal proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma, in whose house a huge amount of cash was detected by police and fire personnel.
Yeshwant Shenoy, one of the advocates who was part of the composite delegation, told TOI that the CJI took the joint resolution of the bar associations but said that since he has expeditiously ordered an inquiry into the incident and that the inquiry panel is holding proceedings on a day-to-day basis, “everyone should await the outcome”.
In the 10-minute meeting during lunch break, the advocates from various bar associations from Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and UP handed over a joint statement to the CJI.
The statement included suggestions and demands of the advocates with regard to the proceedings against Justice Varma, whose repatriation to Allahabad HC from Delhi HC has already been recommended by the SC Collegium. The CJI has also directed that Justice Varma be not given any judicial work either at Delhi HC or Allahabad HC.
The advocates, while appreciating the prompt action taken by the CJI and uploading of the video and photographs of wads of cash at the judge’s residence, demanded that the transfer back to Allahabad be rescinded and the judge in question be stripped of administrative work also.
The advocates demanded initiation of criminal proceedings against Justice Varma, as applicable to any public servant, and action against those who removed the burnt currency notes from the storeroom inside the judge’s residence.
